This collaborative project between UL, the County Council and Limerick City is only the very beginning of the development of the University of Limerick City Centre Campus using just a small section of the existing building.
The first-floor area will be fully refurbished with a new access lift, new ramp and new doors being installed. These works focus on preparing a portion of the internal space on the first floor of the building to create a new space for the UL FabLab, the +CityxChange project, an innovation lab, community engagement lab as well as community exhibition and meeting spaces.
“This is truly the start of a significant new chapter in the University’s history and one that we are very excited about. The University is deeply committed to Limerick, and the city centre campus will reflect both the academic excellence we are known for, as well as being a vital extension of our beautiful campus in the heart of the city. We have great ambition for all that this campus will become in the future,” said Professor Mey.
It is hoped that these initial works in the first phase will be completed by October 2021 and that spaces will be provided for the following:
- UL community engagement
- Fab Lab Laboratory Space
- Fab Lab Machine Space
- +CityxChange Citizen Observatory
- +CityxChange Innovation Laboratory
- Toilets, data hub room, coffee dock
NOTES
Fab Lab Limerick started in 2012 as an elective course at the School of Architecture, UL in which open-source 3D printers, CNC routers and laser cutters were built.
Since then, Fab Lab Limerick has evolved into a fully functional digital fabrication laboratory that offers cultural, educational and research programmes on digital fabrication, bridging the gap between these technologies and creatives from all disciplines.
+CityxChange (Positive City ExChange) is a smart city project that has been granted funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme in the call for ‘Smart cities and communities.’ Limerick is one of two ‘Lighthouse Cities’ for the project.